Biography
Jim Curry’s Tribute to the Music of John Denver
Jim Curry began his music career writing and performing the opening song, “The Time of Your Life” for his senior play. The song was then voted to be the 1975 class song and Jim was awarded a Rotary Scholarship to study music in college. Even at this early stage in his life Jim’s natural voice resembled that of singer/songwriter John Denver. Embracing the similarities, Jim continued to sing and specialize in the songs of John Denver, sharing John’s positive messages of love, humanity and environmental awareness.
The untimely death of John Denver’s in 1997 was a tragedy that was felt the world over. Such a void in the musical world left John's ardent fans demanding that his music survive. CBS television responded by producing a made for TV movie: “Take Me Home, the John Denver Story” in which Jim landed an off-camera role singing as the voice of John Denver. This experience inspired Jim to produce full–length John Denver tribute concerts.
He’s not your usual “Vegas style” impersonator. In fact, he is not an impersonator at all. Jim sings, in his own natural voice, a tribute to the music in a way that has to be seen and heard to understand the pure honesty of his amazing performance. His looks and his voice are simply a pleasant coincidence that captures the true essence of John Denver’s music. Curry’s heartfelt delivery rolls out into the crowd as multi-platinum hits like "Rocky Mountain High," "Annie’s Song" and "Calypso" fill the room. To compliment Jim's performance visually, a multi-media PowerPoint of slides and video are played in sync with each song. Some of the video is the original video John Denver used in his own shows.
Jim believes that John Denver’s words still ring true in these difficult times of war and environmental crisis. John Denver grew rapidly into a mega celebrity when the world was looking for some hope in the late 60’s and his lyrics in songs like, “Take me Home Country Roads” gave America a new lift abroad as well as at home. People all over the world found pride in the natural wonders of the earth and love for John’s message of caring for our planet and each other. Jim delivers these songs in the same spirit, with the same heartfelt care and desire to make a difference. As the concerns of global warming and other environmental issues reach today’s youth, Curry sees a growing number of younger listeners. Curry says, “These songs blend the images of our natural earth with a love for each other as people. The care you give to someone you love is the best care. Making that connection to our earth and to each other is the goal.”
Jim Curry has created the ultimate tribute experience and has emerged as the top performer of John Denver’s music today. He often performs with John Denver’s former band members. Curry’s tribute is the first and only full-length John Denver tribute in a Las Vegas Casino and is a sell-out favorite at the Silverton time after time. Curry has taken his show on the road to Performing Arts Centers and Casinos in the US and Canada and out to sea as one of the most popular shows on the Holland America Cruise Line.
On October 2007, the 10th anniversary of John’s passing, Jim Curry brought a landmark concert to the stage in Aspen Colorado. It included many of John Denver’s former band members, some of them for the first time in a tribute show. Bass player Dick Kniss (who also tours with Peter Paul and Mary) Songwriter, guitar and dobro player Steve Weisberg (who penned many John Denver’s recordings) Banjo player Jim Connor (a former member of the New Kingston Trio and author of the hit song “ Grandma’s Feather Bed”) Legendary guitarist James Burton (Elvis Presley, Ricky Nelson and John Denver) and in what would be one of his last major performances before his passing, singer/songwriter John Stewart of the famed Kingston Trio. The bold and dynamic thinking of Curry continues to produce historical concert engagements and bring icons of the music industry together into powerful shows.
When John Denver wanted to add a full orchestra to his live shows and recordings, he teamed up with Grammy Award winning arranger, composer and conductor Lee Holdridge. Lee’s symphony arrangements, along with John’s songs became the trademark sound of many of John’s hits. Now, Jim Curry and Lee Holdridge have brought the rebirth of the timeless songs of America’s troubadour back as a full- length live concert of John Denver’s greatest works, as well as one of his last songs written. Jim Curry has taken his tribute show to this new level by adding symphony orchestrations back into live performances of John Denver music as an option for those presenters who have a symphony orchestra available for accompaniment, using the symphony arrangements supplied by Jim Curry. Thus, Jim Curry is able to satisfy patrons in performing arts series with or without a venue’s orchestra.
Jim Curry's stellar performance combines with dramatic photos and videos of our natural world; this is a show that will truly fill up your senses!
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